Metropolitan Police Investigate Prince Andrew’s Alleged Smear Campaign

The Metropolitan Police are investigating allegations that Prince Andrew sought to discredit his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, through a potentially unlawful request made to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard. Recent reports indicate that Andrew allegedly provided details about Giuffre, including her date of birth and social security number, to pursue damaging information about her.

This inquiry arises amidst ongoing scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the accusations of sexual abuse raised by Giuffre, who has claimed that she was forced to engage in sexual acts with him when she was just 17 years old.

In light of these allegations, Andrew has taken significant steps to distance himself from his royal duties. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the 65-year-old announced that he would no longer use his royal titles or honours, a decision he described as prioritizing his responsibilities to his family and country. This move follows his withdrawal from public life five years ago, a fallout from his association with Epstein.

The Mail on Sunday reported that in February 2011, shortly before a damaging photograph of Andrew and Giuffre surfaced, he contacted Ed Perkins, then press secretary to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. In an email, Andrew allegedly noted, “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States. I have given her DoB and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty [personal protection officer].”

While a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed they are “actively looking into the claims made,” it has been reported that Giuffre’s family asserts that she does not have a criminal record. They have expressed concern over the lengths to which Andrew and his associates might go to discredit her, stating that these actions further highlight the challenges faced by survivors of abuse.

As the investigation progresses, Virginia Giuffre’s family is now calling for an inquiry into how Andrew may have obtained her private information. The revelations come at a time when the royal family is striving to manage the implications of Andrew’s past and its lingering effects on the monarchy’s image.

Broadcaster Emily Maitlis, known for her pivotal interview with Andrew on BBC Newsnight in 2019, commented on the situation, expressing her support for the investigation. She stated, “I’m glad that they are,” reflecting the public’s ongoing interest in the case and its ramifications for the former Duke of York.

The unfolding investigation marks another chapter in the scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s actions and associations, as the Metropolitan Police seek to clarify the allegations surrounding his conduct and the potential misuse of information.